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Deficient motor timing in children with neurofibromatosis type 1
Debrabant, Julie Plasschaert, Ellen Caeyenberghs, Karen Vingerhoets, Guy Legius, Eric Janssens, Sandra Van Waelvelde, Hilde
Debrabant, Julie
Plasschaert, Ellen
Caeyenberghs, Karen
Vingerhoets, Guy
Legius, Eric
Janssens, Sandra
Van Waelvelde, Hilde
Abstract
Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is one of the most common single-gene disorders affecting fine and visual-motor skills. This case–control study investigated motor timing as a possible related performance deficit in children with NF1. A visual-motor reaction time (VRT) test was administered in 20 NF1 children (mean age 9 years 7 months) and 20 age- and gender-matched typically developing (TD) children. Copying and tracing performance were evaluated using the Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (Beery VMI). Children with NF1 responded with an increased reaction time (RT) to temporally predictive stimuli compared to TD children, whereas RT at unpredictive stimuli did not differ between groups. Motor timing indexed by the RT decrease at predictive stimuli significantly associated with the Beery VMI copy and tracing outcomes. Deficient motor timing as an actual symptom may add to further research on the pathogenesis of NF1-associated motor impairment and the development of more effective treatment.
Keywords
Neurofibromatosis type 1, Reaction time, Motor timing, Motor development, Children
Date
2014
Type
Journal article
Journal
Research in Developmental Disabilities
Book
Volume
35
Issue
11
Page Range
3131-3138
Article Number
ACU Department
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
File Access
Controlled